Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
Turkish Armed Forces Foundation (TSKGV) directed 70 million Turkish liras (about $23,600,000 as of Feb. 1) in 2015 for the development of national defense industry, Turkish General Staff said in a message disseminated Feb. 1.
The funds were directed to the implementation of such projects as MILGEM, meant for creation of a domestic military ship, ANKA (unmanned aerial vehicle), as well as the construction of ALTAY tank, which has been tested since 2013.
An agreement on creation of ALTAY tank was signed in March 2007 between the Under-Secretariat for Defense Industry of the Turkish Defense Ministry and the Turkish company Otokar.
Turkey launched the production of mobile outposts, which have been effective in the fight against the PKK, Canik TP9 pistols, ANKA drones and other military equipment in 2011.
Turkey also will create a domestic laser weapon, the prototype of which is ready.
The proposal to create a laser weapon was put forward by the Scientific and Technological
Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) in May 2013. Turkish navy will be equipped with this weapon. Turkish government has allocated 120 million liras to produce the weapon. The project was approved by Turkey's Defense Industry Ministry.
Turkey has succeeded to reach 60-percent self-sufficiency in defense industry.
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